TRUCHECK
Trucheck is a screening test that identifies cancer early in its early stages, even before symptoms appear.
About Test
- liquid biopsy-type oncology test (minimally invasive, only blood sampling) biopsie lichidă (minim invaziv, doar recoltare de sânge)
- It detect CTCs (circulating tumor cells)not just DNA fragments
- Fast result, without radiation or complex imaging investigations
- Superior accuracy and specificity to classic screening tests
Who is it for?
- Healthy people > 40 years old, for preventive screening
- People with a family history of cancer
- Oncology patients in post-treatment monitoring după tratament
- People who want a more precise assessment than standard periodic investigations evaluare mai precisă decât investigațiile standard periodice
Advantages of the Trucheck test
Unlike classic screening methods that aim to only one type of cancer at a time, Trucheck™ can identify multiple types of cancer through a simple blood draw including forms that can remain undetectable by standard methods of care.
Trucheck™ analyzes circulating tumor cells (CTC) to identify molecular fingerprint of the tumor mass from which they come.
➤ Thus, the test provides relevant information on tissue origin or organ of origin of the tumor, with high accuracy.
Tests based on ctc can be used complementary to traditional imaging investigations.
➤ Combining multiple screening methods can increases overall sensitivity and specificity of cancer detection, providing a more complete and reliable assessment.
How does it work?
- It is done through biopsie lichidă (a simple blood sample).
- It detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) which appear from very early stages of cancer.
- It can identify tumors of just ~1 mm (vs imaging ~5 mm).
- The analysis also shows tissue/organ of origin of cells, with high specificity.
- Cover 80%+ of common cancers.
TruCheck™ variants available
TruCheck™ comes in several options, depending on the types of cancer targeted:
- Trucheck™ Intelli – detects up to 70 types of solid tumors
- Trucheck™ FemmeSafe – dedicated for: breast, ovaries, uterus, cervix
Trucheck method
CTC (circulating tumor cells) enrichment:
Conventional methods for CTC enrichment have relied on either affinity immunocapture (magnetic) or size- or charge-based separation (microfluidic devices). The former method has limitations in the case of CTCs that express a low amount of the epitope or that cluster with cells that do not express the epitope. In addition to low sensitivity, it also leads to low specificity by inadvertently enriching non-malignant cells that express the detected epitope. Size/charge-based methods have a low capture rate of CTCs that exceed the operational range of the device and may also enrich non-malignant cells that meet the detection parameters. In contrast, Trucheck™ uses an epigenetic activating medium (EAM) that negatively enriches CTCs, taking advantage of the characteristic of cancer to evade apoptosis. When isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are treated with EAM, all non-malignant cells are destroyed by the functional mechanism of apoptosis, while all malignant cells of cancerous origin (CTCs) survive.
Tissue and organ of origin specific markers:
Conventional CTC-based technologies infer the presence of CTCs by detecting EpCAM-positive, PanCK-positive, and CD45-negative cells. These technologies miss cancers where the cells have other characteristics. Trucheck™ includes markers that cover various carcinoma subtypes, as well as markers specific to other cancers, such as gliomas.
Microscopic images of stained cells taken from a cancer patient
Trucheck™ utilizes multiplex fluorescent immunocytochemistry (ICC) to assess multiple markers in a single run, using antibodies conjugated to single fluorophores.
FAQ
Are there age limits for the Trucheck™ test? If so, are there any exceptions?
Trucheck™ is recommended for people between the ages of 40 and 70, as aging is a significant risk factor for cancer. However, it can also be offered to people between the ages of 35 and 40 if any of the following risk factors apply:
Family history of cancer and/or known carrier status
The presence of hereditary germline mutations associated with risk
Obseity
Type 2 Diabetes
History of infectious diseases (HPV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses)
Documented/significant exposure to specific chemicals or carcinogens
What are the benefits of Trucheck™ analysis?
Trucheck™ requires only a simple blood test. It can detect cancers that are not detectable by current standard methods. Early detection of cancer is associated with higher treatment success rates.
What are the risks of the Trucheck™ test?
Knowing the risk of having cancer or the existence of cancer, even in its early stages, can have a significant psychological impact on patients.
Patients should be aware that they may still need to have regular screenings according to established guidelines, as Trucheck™ is not intended to replace standard cancer screening tests.
